The Holy Lent

The Holy Lent: A Season of Renewal for All

by HG Yakob Mar Irenaios

Prophet Isaiah was emphatic in arguing that lent and fasting are not just pious
"obligatory Observances" for the people of God, but a tremendous transforming
force. (Isaiah 58). Being mortal and feeble, humans need periodic renewal of body,
mind and soul. How is this possible?

The central theme of the preaching of Jesus Christ and earlier, of John the
Baptist, was the call to repentance and renewal. Those were the 'signs' of the
arrival and establishment of the Kingdom Of God. For us, a basic answer to the
question raised above is provided by the season of lent and fasting.

Basically, the The Holy Lenten Season has some 'external' observations and
abstinences, which certainly have their 'internal' and obvious implications. We
are asked to abstain from certain food items and also to completely refrain from
eating and drinking for a certain time. Though these seem overt, in reality, they
effect a lasting influence on our thinking and spirit. It may be observed, felt
and appreciated that an element of discipline and moderation slowly creeps into
the one who keeps the lent. One special feature of the The Holy Lent is the "prostrations"
which are made several times. Here is a telling message that all
the three elements - body, mind and soul, do participate in this arduous
process. The body and thinking may not have much involvement in an act in which
they do not participate. In Prostration, the body feels a bit of hard labor
leading to tiredness, but this one is one with a difference. Here the tiredness is welcome!

And the regulation of abstinence extends to other bodily activities and 'pleasures'.
Not only that: we are enjoined to control our tongue as well. The
note in Isaiah specifically exhorts that lent is to be accepted wholeheartedly as
the time to repair and make anew. Broken relationships are to be restored; the
injustice done has to be amended; the poor need to be taken care of, for the
rich are partly responsible for their poverty. The entire devotion- prayer
schedule of the The Holy Lent deals with the issue of repentance and restoration of
the proper relationship with God and neighbor. This is common to all ancient churches.

Saint Paul talks about the "fruit" of the Spirit: the last in the catalogue is
self-control.( Gal. 5:22) Fasting and repentance is the time tested means of self control!

It may be beneficial to recall that Jesus himself fasted for forty days and
nights before he started his public ministry. And his disciples emulated him in
this. St Gregorios of Parumala and his brother bishops assembled at Vettikkal
Dayara and fasted and prayed for forty days before they set out to take charge
of their assigned dioceses in the Church.

Now going back to our opening query. How to realize a renewal in our personal
and family lives? Here we have a credible and trustworthy avenue - that of the
The Holy Lent. The Orthodox Churches world-wide take the Lenten season seriously as
an opportunity for personal and community renewal and transformation.

Let us join the band of all who faithfully observe the The Holy Lent, and 2011
become unforgettable for us as the year of total renewal and transformation,
wherein signs and ways of sin and evil in us are totally removed from us. Jesus
who observed the Lent and fasting walks ahead of us. Let us follow him faithfully!

See Also:

Life in Christ
- Message of The Holy Lent from Holy Father (2011)Apostolic Bull
for The Holy Lent -2011
The holy gospel is a reliable record of the teachings of our Lord
Jesus Christ in words and deeds during His divine economy in the
flesh. It does not impose on us orders. It does not give us
commandments to blindly hold to. It does not list prohibitions.
Rather, it presents to us Jesus Christ as a living paradigm to
longue for and a model to pursue carrying His cross. We shall follow
Him so that we obtain eternal life through Him.

The Spirituality of
Lent
There are two different ways of looking at this fast because there are two
different versions of these forty days, or forty segments of time, in the
Scriptures. One is the blessing of the revelation of what it is that we need to
do in service to God and to humanity. And the other is of the purification that
needs to happen for God to set things straight in us and around us.